News

Actions

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's ... a hoverboard?

Hoverboard makes debut in US
Posted
and last updated

It looks like a special effect from a superhero movie, but the man on the personal hovercraft device seen in a new viral video recorded in Florida isn't the Silver Surfer.

It's Franky Zapata of Zapata Racing on a revolutionary Flyboard Air, and video shows him zooming high over Avalon Lake in Collier County's Sugden Park on Sunday. The demonstration was held during the Flyboard World Cup Championship.

"It made history," said A.J. Handler, CEO of Pro Watercross. "It flew for the first time in the U.S., and it flew in Naples, Florida."

Standing on the small jet-powered craft, Zapata easily beat two jet-skis in a race, which raises obvious questions about safety.

"The FAA is aware of the operation, and is looking into it," said Kathleen Bergen, an FAA spokeswoman in a statement. "The device/operator did not have an FAA-issued experimental aircraft certificate, which is required for an experimental aircraft."

A Collier County spokeswoman said EMTs and safety boats were on standby during the event.

Handler said the Flyboard Air could be much more than a weekend toy, and could even be a life-saver.  "Being able to possibly go up a mountain and deliver supplies or something - that's phenomenal," he said.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Friday

09/26/2025

Clear

-° / 69°

6%

Saturday

09/27/2025

Partly Cloudy

90° / 66°

12%

Sunday

09/28/2025

Partly Cloudy

85° / 64°

4%

Monday

09/29/2025

Partly Cloudy

82° / 63°

11%

Tuesday

09/30/2025

Clear

81° / 60°

4%

Wednesday

10/01/2025

Clear

82° / 60°

2%

Thursday

10/02/2025

Mostly Clear

83° / 60°

6%

Friday

10/03/2025

Clear

78° / 60°

1%